Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Uh-Oh

Just read this article by Tracy Ringolsby. It's not an opinion piece, just a report that MLB has warned the Phillies about the actions of their bullpen coach during a recent game against the Colorado Rockies. Apparently the Phillies' bullpen coach was watching the Rockies' catcher with binoculars from the bullpen, all the while Shane Victorino was on the bullpen phone in the dugout. Every now and again he'd step out of the bullpen, onto the field, and ask the Rockies' catcher to cycle through the sign again because he had missed something.

Accusations about the Phillies potentially stealing signs have surrounded this team since at least 2008. They arose last year during the World Series versus the Yankees (and they still lost!). Nothing has been proven yet, but it doesn't look good.

Using the bullpen phone is bad. You're supposed to use a Walkie Talkie. Stealing signs has been around as long as the game has. The solution is to call for a breaking ball away and throw the fastball up and in.